World’s most expensive spice could give Afghanistan an economic lifeline

Saffron cultivation needs lots of land and a lot of labor, but the world’s most expensive spice might be an economic lifeline for Afghanistan with international financial support set to fall in the coming years.

In the western province of Herat, elderly women and young girls make their way slowly through a field of tiny saffron plants, carefully plucking the valuable flowers from the soil.

Each plant is placed in a plastic basket, which is weighed on electronic scales.